Carson City is one of the best “building the railroad” westerns I’ve reviewed so far on this blog. And we don’t actually see any trains until 65 minutes into the picture!

What sets this film apart is a good story throughout along with dashing Randolph Scott (playing construction troubleshooter Silent Jeff Kincaid) opposite the movie’s love interest Lucille Norman (Susan Mitchell). Add Raymond Massey (Big Jack Davis) at his villainous, champagne-soaked best to the mix, and you’ve got a winner.

Let’s watch them build and then operate the railroad from the mines at Virginia City to the state capitol at Carson City, Nevada.

Construction is complete and V&CC railroad #22 whistles off for the first trip along the line.

Someone’s been holding up the stagecoach between Carson City and Virginia City. Management in San Francisco is not pleased. It is thought a railroad might be a safer alternative. But…who to build it?

Looking like a tombstone is the arched window at theCentral Pacificmain offices; The big shots decide Jack Davis is the man for the job.

Randy Scott is fetched from a nearby saloon and shown the route to be taken.

Susan Mitchell (rawr-RAWR!) along with her boyfriend Alan Kincaid (played byRichard Webb) greets Randy on his arrival in Carson City. To further complicate this love triangle, Alan is also Randy’s half-brother and Susan still carries the torch of a schoolgirl crush on Randy from 10 years ago. Hot and juicy!

However, Susan’s dad (editor of the Carson City Clarion) is an old grump under the thumb of Boss Jack Davis and prints scathing editorials against the upcoming railroad.

Undaunted, Susan trots out to the construction site just as they’re setting off some dynamite; Randy gallantly pulls her into a small cave just in time.

Great shot of a rock drill being used in one of the tunnels; Dad’s still against the railroad…

Meanwhile, Randy is surveying yet another tunnel.

An unfortunateMongo lookalikegets buried in a suspicious landslide — set off by Raymond Massey’s gang!

Nonetheless, Randy gets the job done and the first train is ready to roll from Carson City to Virginia City. For the rest of the picture,Virginia & Truckee #22, The Inyo, is the star of the show.

Well, this is uncomfortable. Randy Scott cheerfully wishes Alan and Susan well on their journey. Alan looks nonplussed.

Nicely lit view of #22 rolling through a cut; What’s this? Raymond Massey is on board. No doubt skulduggery is afoot.

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About Lindsay Korst

Webmaster, Blogmaster, Ferroequinologist -
Lindsay Korst works for a nationwide home improvement center after a 20+ year career supporting computer users. A resident of the Seattle area since 1976, he has had a life-long interest in railroads, particularly those in the Pacific Northwest. He is an enthusiastic participant in the Great Northern Railway Historical Society. He and his wife reside in Redmond, Washington.